Analysis of strength characteristics of loess before and after freezing using a hollow cylinder torsional shear apparatus

This paper aims to comprehensively analyze the influence of the principal stress angle rotation and intermediate principal stress on loess's strength and deformation characteristics. A hollow cylinder torsional shear apparatus was utilized to conduct tests on remolded samples under both normal and frozen conditions to investigate the mechanical properties and deformation behavior of loess under complex stress conditions. The results indicate significant differences in the internal changes of soil particles, unfrozen water, and relative positions in soil samples under normal and frozen conditions, leading to noticeable variations in strength and strain development.In frozen state, loess experiences primarily compressive failure with a slow growth of cracks, while at normal temperature, it predominantly exhibits shear failure. With the increase in the principal stress angle, the deformation patterns of the soil samples under different conditions become essentially consistent, gradually transitioning from compression to extension, accompanied by a reduction in axial strength. The gradual increase in the principal stress axis angle(α) reduces the strength of the generalized shear stress and shear strain curves.Under an increasing α, frozen soil exhibits strain-hardening characteristics, with the maximum shear strength occurring at α = 45°. The intermediate principal stress coefficient(b) also significantly impacts the strength of frozen soil, with an increasing b resulting in a gradual decrease in generalized shear stress strength. This study provides a reference for comprehensively exploring the mechanical properties of soil under traffic load and a reliable theoretical basis for the design and maintenance of roadbeds.

Undrained monotonic and cyclic behavior of sand-ground rubber mixtures

In this study the stress–strain characteristics of sand-ground rubber mixtures are investigated in the sandlike zone,at different confining pressures,using hollow cylinder specimens subjected to torsional monotonic and cyclic loading.Under monotonic loading a mixture of sand-ground rubber with 10% and 25% rubber content show more contraction behaviour than that observed in a pure sand specimen.Phase transformation point in these mixtures are located on a larger shear strain.As expected,the shear strength of specimens decreases with increase of ground rubber content.However,with increasing of effective confining pressure,the loss in shear strength of the mixture is decreased.In addition,a mixture with 25% ground rubber shows a smaller loss in shear strength compared to a mixture with 10% ground rubber mixture.Under cyclic loading mixtures with 10% and 25% ground rubber have similar liquefaction resistance,especially at confining pressures of 110 k Pa and 260 k Pa.Therefore,by using of the mixture with 25% ground rubber,a larger volume of scrap tires could be recycled.The addition of ground rubber to sand would affect the shear strain variation and excess pore water pressure trends,and this effect was further intensified with increasing ground rubber percentage.

Effect of Initial Stress Conditions on the Threshold Shear Strain of Nanjing's Saturated Fine Sand

By using GDS dynamic hollow cylinder torsional apparatus, a series of cyclic torsional triaxial tests under complex initial consolidation condition are performed on Nanjing saturated fine sand. The effects of the initial principal stress direction αo, the initial ratio of deviatoric stress η0, the initial average effective principal stress Po and the initial intermediate principal stress parameter b0 on the threshold shear strain γt of Nanjing saturated fine sand are then systematically investigated. The results show that γt increases as η0,p0 and b0 increase respectively, while the other three parameters remain constant. ao has a great influence on γt, which is reduced when ao increases from 0° to 45°and increased when α0 increases from 45° to 90°. The effect of α0 on γt, plays a leading role and the effect of η0 will weaken when ao is approximately 45°.

Rock strength weakening subject to principal stress rotation:Experimental and numerical investigations

During the construction and operation of gas storage reservoirs,changes in the principal stress direction can induce fracture propagation under conditions of lower differential stress,potentially leading to failure in the surrounding rock.However,the weakening of strength due to pure stress rotation has not yet been investigated.Based on fracture mechanics,an enhanced Mohr-Coulomb strength criterion considering stress rotation is proposed and verified with experimental and numerical simulations.The micro-damage state and the evolution of the rock under the pure stress-rotation condition are analyzed.The findings indicate that differential stress exceeding the crack initiation stress is a prerequisite for stress rotation to promote the development of rock damage.As the differential stress increases,stress rotation is more likely to induce rock damage,leading to a transition from brittle to plastic failure,characterized by wider fractures and a more complex fracture network.Overall,a negative exponential relationship exists between the stress rotation angle required for rock failure and the differential stress.The feasibility of applying the enhanced criterion to practical engineering is discussed using monitoring data obtained from a mine-by tunnel.This study introduces new concepts for understanding the damage evolution of the surrounding rock under complex stress paths and offers a new theoretical basis for predicting the damage of gas storage reservoirs.